The Opelousas courier., 1887-01-15
UNDER THE MIsTLETOE.

NSssN ~ va c0ISSSsSA ANA
through the ranks of fashionable Lon
don men and women gathered in thu
great hall of this hospitab!e Surrey home
stead.
The charming old manor was just nov
filed with guests from cellar to attic, and
to-day they had been pressed into active
service.
A fair RESULT
The grand, oak-rattered hall was 6
festive world of glistening holly and
scarlet berries, and CHEEKY, roaring, sea.
coal fires.
. think we have done spkndidly,'
pretty Ethel sterrett said, looking slow
ly around with blue, approving eyes.
They are the Gerry prettlest Christmas
decorations / haYe-There she is,
Huldah!m
And, despite herself, an amused ex-
pectancy crept into her face.
Her hostess turned quickly-a little
nervously-and went down with her
vi uncle to meet their guest.
You'll repent this, uncle, in a low,
impatient whisper. 'sWe'll be heartily
ashamed Of her--I know we will. A
girl fresh from the B~allonlouty bogsi
And Sir Cecil Leighton coming, toow
.sRepent, wait and see!" old Casper
Ferris answered, drily.
And then the door was flung open, and
Il slender, girlish figure, clad in black,
curly, astrakhan from head to foot, came
out of the gray, winter twilight and in
to the long, fre-lit hall, the hum of Ian
guild voices, the challenging glances of
critical eyes.
So this was the dreaded visitor-the
outre Irish %consin!
Welcome, GeraIdineF' her cousin
said, with q COLI kiss. "Have you had
a tiresome journey2"
.sTiresome2' echoed a sweet, fresh
voice, with a faint, unmistakable Irish
accent. mo; l found it delightful"
Hutdah shuddered. Her guest smiled
q little. A smoky, jolting, winter jour-
ney delightful They could not see her
face we'll in the uncertain, crimson fire.
mt, but they scored one in her favor
ftr her merry musical laughter.
When, half an hour later, she came
Into tho long, lighted drawing-room,
thty looked up in surprise.
"a Worth costunel' they whispered.
A lissome, rounded figure, clad in soft,
gray, shining drapcries; at the pretty
throat some scarlet holly-berries--a dus-
Ter Of the same glowing in the golden
brown hair.
Ouch 4 sweet, fresh, lovable face,
with its blue. laughing, Irish eyes, its
brows and lash IS back as jet, its bright,
saacy, Styling lips.
scar6BlAy were the introductions spoken,
when The door was thrown open.
Sir Cecil Lcightonm
Z cafne into the roon--a tall, military,
king young fcllow,of twenty-eight or
Ihereabouts.
Huldah Ferris came swiftly forward, a
Wintry. flush tlngIing her cheek.
And ~thoAAhoss present looked at each
other and smiled. It was an old story,
that cfMiss Ferris peaehaat for handsome
Cecil Leighton. Miss Ferris was not d
beauty. She hal 0 thip, nervous face,
duffy, colorless hair, and very wide, open
Eyes, that her enemies called green.
"We.come, Sir Cecill We scarcely
dared hope for you before Christmas. In
Productions are unnecessary, I believe.
Bat stayl Sir Cecil Lighton- my cou-
lid, Miss Ferris.
Geraldine, Sill standing under the
chandeliers flooding light, bowed grave
".
A quick fash Of admiration leapea in
d bis eyes.
How pretty she locked, in those grag,
trailing robes, with the vivid dash Of
scarlet 1t the throat and hairl How pref
gl
II am very happy to meet Miss Fer
IL, ''said quietly.
But there was q quizzical look in his
dark eyes, 4 queer twitchiug around the
wellscut lips.
At eleven they I'LL trooped of to bed,
worn out with the days exertion.
Geraldine, standing ii the foot Of the
stairs, looked up withrogish eyes.
Please, some one,n pathetically.
ssbfing some sal-volatile for poor Mr.
Radden. He looks exhausted.n
Fact Y Tie young Londoner opposite
~murnurcd langnidly. ssQuite used lib.
Hardest dag's work ! ever had, 4
q believe sonip % emphaEically, they
all laaghed, and Dit. Readsn wondered
vague.y 4 that pretty little Iish girl
resasd hAye sassaas anything.
Halfway np thc stairs she heard aa ex-
~clanation # dismay;
We've fargcttan ne mfsfletoef
Never mind 4 some ono answered as
lI AZ II tha morning